Nobody gained from bus strike: Gemunu

Dec 8 (CT) The private bus strike last Friday not only caused an inconvenience to the public, but also questioned the power of the Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA). LPBOA President Gemunu Wijeratne said the strike on Friday was unnecessary and there was nothing gained from it, and also said that the President assured the very same things to him; prior to the strike.
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New constitution: Who’s to bell Rajapaksas?

Dec 8 (SL) In a recent meeting with all 16 TNA MPs, President Maithripala Sirisena is reported to have promised to ask PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss upcoming constitutional reforms with predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa. It seems to flow from the perception that the Joint Opposition (JO) identifying with the Rajapaksas are opposed to basic changes, be it to the unitary character of the Sri Lankan State or the primacy to Buddhism. There can be no two opinions
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Lifting the Christmas spirit

Dec 8 (NS) Small-time pickpockets 29-year old Trish, played by Mary Stuart Masterson, and her six-year-old niece Patsy takes Christmas shoplifting to a whole new level in the movie On the Second Day of Christmas, when they try to pick-pocket Mr. Limber, the owner of the Limbers department store. Trish ultimately winds up falling for the security guard Bert, played by Mark Ruffalo, who caught them. Bert quits his job and proposes to Trish. Although for Trish and Patsy, shoplifting is sustenance,
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Netting the lost Catalina

Dec 8 (ST) When Wasantha Kumara’s fishing net got entangled in a strange piece of metal in the waters of Kalkudah, just south of Passikudah, little did the fisherman know that this was going to be the beginning of unravelling a mystery lying nearly 42 metres deep in the seabed. On a tip-off by Wasantha’s friend Jagath Lal, a fellow fisherman and a diver from Kayankerni, north of Passikudah, who suspected piece of metal
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Healing the wounds of racism: Lessons from the holy prophet of Islam

Dec 8 (CT) As another birth anniversary of Holy Prophet of Islam dawns, there are no signs of the well-orchestrated Islamophobic campaign launched on a global plane abating, with many far right groups taking the lead in many countries exploiting this trend to make political gains. In these challenging times, what are the lessons the world can draw from his great exemplary to effectively fight and defeat the scourge and wounds of racism and xenophobia afflicting our world and promoting diversity?
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Pampering racist hooliganism; Recipe for disaster

Dec 8 (CT) There is deep disbelief and disappointment amongst people of all communities that President Maithripala Sirisena invited BBS General Secretary Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera for the heads of religious leaders meeting he summoned on 6 Dec 2016. Some described this as an insult to religious heads. This was due to allegations of violence, inciting Sinhalese against Muslims with false allegations, threat he poses to communal harmony and peace,
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Unnecessary fear is created on trade agreements: President

Dec 7 (DM) Unnecessary fear is being created by interested persons on the trade agreements which Sri Lanka is planning to sign in the future, President Sirisena told Parliament. Speaker during the committee stage of the budget the President said trade agreements would be signed only after disadvantageous clauses are taken away." All the trade agreements which the country intends signing will be presented to Parliament"
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Raja Muda of perlis meets Sri Lankan Malay community

Dec 7 (Bernama) Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail met the Malay community in SL yesterday to know about their history and culture. The arrival of Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) chancellor, at the Slave Island community hall, was greeted by Sri Lankan Malays Association president M. Hussain Jayah, who is one of the 50,000 Malays in SL. Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is leading a UniMAP delegation
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World Bank to strengthen social safety net

Dec 7 (LBO) World Bank Board has approved a US 75 million dollar credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to support Sri Lanka’s main welfare programs to develop an integrated system by better managing the selection, administration, and payments to beneficiaries. The project will contribute to improving the equity, efficiency and transparency of the social safety net, the World Bank said in a statement. Social Safety Nets Project will be implemented by
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Fresh probe Into $700 million China Deal

Dec 7 (AFP) The govt on Wednesday launched an investigation into a $700 million river diversion deal that had been finalised with a Chinese company weeks before the fall of the previous regime. Cabinet set up a panel to probe the contract awarded to China CAMC Engineering on the eve of Mahinda Rajapakse's defeat in Jan 2015 presidential election, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.
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Sri Lanka to invite private investment in higher education sector

Dec 7 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka would open up the higher education sector for private investment, a top official said here on Wednesday. Sri Lankan Higher Education and Highways Minister, Lakshman Kiriella said that five foreign universities including Manipal University of India had agreed to put up their branch campuses in the country. The minister, however, said there was a case regarding the acceptability of the only private medical college operating in Sri Lanka.
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Shares end near one-week closing low

Dec 7 (Reuters) Shares ended weaker for a second straight session on Wednesday, to hit their lowest close in nearly one week, with foreign investors selling domestic shares as uncertainty over budget proposals continued to keep sentiment subdued. CSE ended down 0.36% at 6,327.30, moving away from its highest close since Nov. 15 hit on Monday. The bourse gained 1.17% last week, recording its first weekly gain in four weeks. Foreign investors sold a net 105.6 million rupees
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No changes to Rs. 25,000 fine for seven traffic offenses: Rajitha

Dec 7 (DM) Minister Rajitha Senaratne reiterated that there would be no changes on the proposed fine of Rs.25,000 for seven traffic offenses. He said even the govt’s decision was also the same and there would not be any rollback of the proposed fine. “We will never give permission for drivers to kill people. Since the date the decision was taken there is a slight decrement of road accidents. I think the accidents would be less
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‘Tamil Nadu’s new leaders should keep up pressure on Sri Lanka’

Dec 7 (PTI) TN’s new Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Opposition Leader M K Stalin should continue with the same policy of pressurising Sri Lanka to address Tamils’ concerns in the country as J Jayalalithaa did, a hardline Tamil politician said here on Wednesday. “We hope Panneerselvam and Stalin will have the same interest in the Sri Lankan issue,” M K Shivajilingam said. Shivajilingam, a hardline nationalist and relative of slain LTTE supremo V Prabahakaran,
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Wijesooriya stresses importance of flexibility for coexistence

Dec 7 (Island) Flexibility was a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence among members of a family or different ethnic groups, but, unfortunately, some people tended to view that positive trait as a sign of weakness, Head of the National Movement for Social Justice Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya said. Addressing a workshop, Eliminate Gender Based Violence (GBV) 2016, Prof. Wijesooriya said most problems stemmed from unwillingness on the part of some people to listen to others.
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U.N. rights watchdog calls on Sri Lanka to investigate torture

Dec 7 (Reuters) A U.N. rights watchdog called on Sri Lanka on Wednesday to investigate documented allegations of torture and rape of detainees by security forces and to rein in broad police powers. The United Nations Committee against Torture described continuing reports of abductions, deaths in custody, poor conditions of detention and the use of forced confessions in court.
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Sri Lanka’s state-run daily carries editorial hailing Jayalalithaa

Dec 7 (Hindu) State-run newspaper, the Daily News, on Wednesday said it was an end of an era in Tamil Nadu, referring to the death of former TN Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Most of the country’s mainstream media, particularly the Sinhala and English press based in Colombo, have been consistently critical of Ms. Jayalalithaa – a leader whom the island’s Sinhala majority perceived as a powerful leader who often pressured New Delhi to adopt anti-Colombo policies.
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Dec 7 (Xinhua) Sri Lanka on Wednesday vowed to tackle the spread of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the island nation and will host an international conference this month to address the issue. Officials involved in addressing CKD in Sri Lanka said that Sri Lanka's Gardiner Foundation which had tied up with the Brussels based International Society of Nephrology (ISN), will inaugurate the 'ISN-Gardiner Foundation in Colombo, which will be attended by President Sirisena and PM Wickremesinghe
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JO lodges complaint against Thalatha

Dec 7 (DM) Joint opposition today lodged a complaint against Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Atukorale at the Bribery Commission and the FCID over a case of financial misappropriation causing the State loss of Rs. 1,500 million. JO MP Niroshan Premaratne said Minister had caused the State a loss of Rs. 1500 million by the mandatory insurance scheme of SL Bureau of Foreign Employment for all SL migrant workers
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Basil Rajapaksa allowed to travel overseas

Dec 7 (NR) Court granted approval for Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to travel overseas for a period of three months. The order was issued by the Colombo High Court, after taking into consideration a request by Basil Rajapaksa. He was banned from overseas travel over the case pertaining to the misuse of funds of the Divi Neguma Department when purchasing GI pipes and in turn incurring a loss to the govt. The order was issued by Colombo HC judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardene.
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Lankan Tamils pay homage to Jayalalithaa

Dec 7 (Hindu) Not only AIADMK functionaries but Sri Lankan Tamils residing outside the refugee camp in the city also felt the irreparable loss of their Amma. The news of Jayalalithaa’s demise came as a rude shock to the Lankan Tamils staying in K.K. Nagar area who too felt extremely pained over the death of the mass leader. A group of Lankan Tamils installed a hoarding near a Murugan temple in K.K. Nagar and paid their homage to the departed leader. Around 100 Lankan Tamils assembled on
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Video: Karuna Amman released on bail

Dec 7 (AD) The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today granted bail to former Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, better known as Karuna Amman, who was arrested and remanded for allegedly misusing a state vehicle. The former top LTTE military commander who later became Deputy Minister in the Rajapaksa govt was arrested after he arrived at FCID to give a statement regarding the complaint on 29 Nov
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Sri Lanka to seek Indian help to obtain release of nine Lankan sailors held by pirates

Dec 7 (Island) Deputy Foreign Minister Harsha de Silva told Parliament yesterday the govt would seek India’s help to secure the release of nine Sri Lankan sailors held by Yemeni pirates aboard the Greek Vessel Fair Appollon, anchored in the Yemeni Port of Hodeidah. In answer to a question raised by MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena, the minister said that 26 sailors including nine Sri Lankan nationals had been held by Yemeni pirates for more than two months.
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Sri Lanka second monsoon fails, hydro storage at five year low

Dec 7 (EN) Sri Lanka's second monsoon, has effectively failed leaving the state-run power utility CEB with the lowest hydro storage in five years. Power Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said water collections during the monsoon was the lowest in 7 years. Deputy Power Minister Ajith Perera said hydro storage at the moment was the lowest in five years. By end October total hydro storage was enough to generate around 600 GWh. By Dec 6, storage was 561 GWh.
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Jayampathi receives death threats

Dec 7 (NR) UNP MP Jayampathy Wickramaratne has lodged a complaint with police after receiving death threats via phone. MP requested the Deputy Speaker to pay special attention to the incident. MP said he was threatened over his involvement in the process to enact a new Constitution. He said, “I received a call on my mobile last morning. I was threatened over my role on the process to enact a new constitution.
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Nothing wrong in IGP’s response: Rajitha

Dec 7 (AD) I’m of the view that there was nothing wrong in the manner of how the IGP responded to the controversial call during a meeting in Ratnapura, Minister Rajitha Senaratne said. He went on to say while on the call, the IGP did not pressurize that the certain individual should not be arrested. He also slammed former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa over his remark about the professionalism of the present IGP. The Minister alleged there was an IGP during
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Magisterial Inquiry on late Ven. Sobitha thera's death concluded

Dec 7 (DM) CID today informed court that it would conclude the magisterial inquiry on the death of Ven. Sobitha Thera based on the report earlier submitted by the special panel of Colombo National Hospital doctors. Subsequently, Colombo Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya concluded the magisterial inquiry on the matter. CNH doctors who conducted an inquiry on the demise of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera earlier had informed court that the cause of death given by the Singapore clinicians
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'All stakeholders to be briefed on ETCA and China FTA'

Dec 7 (CG) Govt today informed Parliament that all stakeholders will be briefed on the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) with India and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China. President Sirisena assured Parliament, approval will be sought on the Indo-Lanka agreement. He said that if there are any concerns on the agreement the clauses which rise concerns will be amended.
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Solar powered govt offices in 2 years

Dec 7 (NR) Deputy Minister Ajith P Perera says the govt has initiated a program to ensure all state offices are solar powered within two years. He said the present administration is focused on providing eco-friendly and sustainable energy to the masses. The govt has paved the way to avoid expensive electricity bills. He said, As the Ministry that is responsible for providing the country with electricity we have taken all steps ensure that in future the govt will initiate a program to generate
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Bandula faults FM for incompetence

Dec 7 (Island) JO MP Bandula Gunawardena said that country’s economy was in a shambles and its international debt was reaching alarming proportions. He attributed the economic woes of the country to poor economic management by Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who, he said, had proved that he was not eligible to hold the portfolio. Felix Dias Bandaranaike, Finance Minister of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Cabinet in the early 1960s had resigned from his ministerial post for making
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Taking turns in robbing people's money

Jayalalithaa: Forever Remembered, Forever Missed

Dec 7 (CT) Jayalalitha Jayaram, a former film star popularly known as Amma and Puratchi Talaivi by her party members and people around Tamil Nadu is the Honorable Chief Minister of TN state. She was a popular and powerful woman worked as Chief Minister of TN for more than 10 years. She died on 5th Dec 2016 after 75 days of illness and subsequent hospitalisation, where multiple attempts to resuscitate her after she suffered a cardiac arrest, failed at Apollo hospital, Chennai.
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The missing jewel in Lanka's crown

Dec 7 (CT) As Goethe once said it with firm conviction and a truly deep insight into the darker side of human nature: Patriotism corrupts history. Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, the other day, suggested in a proposal to President Sirisena that the Gazette of 1818 issued by then British colonial govt – in which Sinhala heroes of that era who were quite brutally put to death by the British were described as traitors – be annulled and that those heroes be, by another Gazette
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Video: Rakna Lanka to be liquidated

Dec 7 (AD) The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to liquidate Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL), the commercial security firm functioning under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. The services provided by the company are to be assigned to the Civil Security Department (CSD) and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN). “The proposal made by President Sirisena, in his capacity as the Minister of Defence to assign task of providing security
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Fresh indictment filed against Basil

Dec 7 (NR) The Attorney General today filed indictments against former Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the Colombo High Court for allegedly misappropriating Divi Neguma funds to print almanacs during the period leading up to the 2015 Presidential Election. The Attorney General withdrew the case yesterday citing a technical reason. During the previous indictment, a sanction letter by the AG had not been submitted.
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Judicial corruption: BC commences probe

Dec 7 (FT) CIABOC has commenced an inquiry against present Chief Justice K. Sripavan, four former chief justices and a few other judges for alleged judicial corruption. CIABOC commenced the inquiry following a complaint lodged by lawyer Nagananda Kodituwakku on 15 Feb, stating that independent investigation conducted by him had revealed that those who held high office in the Judiciary had abused their positions and
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